Unity of Purpose
In the world of football, it is often emphasized, at least for the top teams, how important it is for the coach to have the support and backing of their brightest stars on the field. Formula 1 is, of course, a completely different environment from that of football, but there can be similarities in this regard. In a top team, if the team boss and the most important driver don’t get along, it’s difficult to go far. This is what happened at Scuderia Ferrari last year with tensions, which emerged consistently throughout the season, between Charles Leclerc and former team principal Mattia Binotto.
Solid Bond
The famous ‘finger’ incident at Silverstone was probably the last straw, eventually leading to Mattia Binotto’s separation from Ferrari at the end of the year. Now, taking on the role of team principal is Frederic Vasseur, who shares a long-standing bond with Charles Leclerc, as he ushered in the Monegasque’s Formula 1 debut in 2018 with Sauber. For now, the French manager has had limited impact on results, partly due to the not-so-great competitiveness of the SF-23 developed under the previous management.
Nonetheless, Fred Vasseur is making efforts to leave his mark in terms of future decisions, having already stirred the waters in terms of personnel changes within the team.
Long-Term Project
At the core of Ferrari’s project is, of course, the Monegasque driver, who, according to the team principal’s intentions, should stay with the Maranello team long beyond the current contract’s expiration, set for the end of the 2024 Formula One season. Charles Leclerc, for his part, seems to greatly appreciate the team management under Fred Vasseur. Therefore, he’s willing to give him all the time necessary to steer the course of the red ship in the coming years. The long-term goal is to compete with Red Bull, even though Charles Leclerc himself has admitted several times that achieving this will be challenging before the new power unit regulations come into effect in 2026.
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Different Methods
“Vasseur? I share all his plans,” Charles Leclerc stated in a comprehensive interview with La Repubblica. “He brings a different working method compared to Mattia Binotto. It’s interesting to have an outsider’s perspective that shows you things you hadn’t noticed in so many years. Our relationship is direct, he speaks to me openly without hesitation, which helps me as a driver. It’s not that I lacked that before, but with Fred, there’s this straightforwardness.” A clear endorsement, sounding like a pact for the future, with hopes that the good intentions will then be followed by concrete results on the track.
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